Submitted by Deanna Stoppler, Team Easyboot 2016 Member
Working in freezing temperatures can be difficult and time consuming but with a bit of planning and organization tasks are less daunting and completed with ease.
During the winter season glue and all liquids should be brought inside to prevent products from freezing. Carrying cases such as Tupperware style totes, coolers, or rolling toolboxes work well for consolidating supplies and storing them in such a way that carrying them to and from the warm storage space to the vehicle is convenient. I prefer to use a rolling toolbox instead of carrying a heavy tote or cooler, it keeps my back happy and sound!
In my rolling toolbox are the following items:
Glue (Vettec Adhere, EasyShoe Bond glue, and Polyflex Seal-It)
Hoof packing (Equipak, Magic Cushion, Impression Material)
Hoof Clay (Life Data Labs hoof clay)
Hoof disinfectant
Hoof dressing
First aid disinfectant
Sharpie markers
Rechargeable drill batteries (very cold temperatures can cut battery life in half)
Latex gloves
Heating pad
Ah, the heating pad. Such a nice treat for clients to warm their frozen hands or feet on! Most importantly, though, the heating pad is used to keep liquids from freezing while in use. During set up I place the toolbox near my work space and plug in the heating pad, laying it flat across the supplies to keep them from freezing during use. Often times I will place a pair of EasyShoes and glue tips on top of the heating pad so that all of the supplies are warm and ready for use when it’s time to glue.
A heat gun can be useful in warming the foot prior to adhering your EasyCare product. A cold foot and warm glue take longer to cure than two objects of similar temperatures. Be careful when heating the foot with a heat gun. Be sure to keep the gun moving to avoid overheating the foot.
Keeping supplies at a consistent average room temperature will preserve the shelf life of the product, reduce stress during use in winter temperatures, and increase success of application when gluing.
